UNITED GRINDING wins “Best Overall Solution” – CHARMILLES receives the “Green Impact Award”

UNITED MACHINING SOLUTIONS proudly looks back on a phenomenal success at this year’s Machine Tool Innovation (MTI) Awards 2025, hosted by the European Association of Machine Tool Industries (CECIMO). The group impressed the jury twice: UNITED GRINDING received the main award, Best Overall Solution, for its groundbreaking “Digital Manufacturing Ecosystem,” while CHARMILLES won the Green Impact Award for sustainable innovation with the project “Precision Redefined with 3D Shaping & LASER S 500 U.” Both awards were presented during EMO Hannover 2025 – the world’s leading trade fair for machine tools and manufacturing technologies – marking a double triumph for the newly formed group and underlining its innovative strength.

Digital Manufacturing Ecosystem – a milestone for the UNITED GRINDING Division

The Best Overall Solution award went to UNITED GRINDING for its visionary, fully integrated digitalization concept covering its products and services. Exactly ten years ago, UNITED GRINDING began its digital transformation with the development and consistent implementation of the unified software and hardware platform C.O.R.E. This digital nucleus forms the DNA of UNITED GRINDING’s CNC machines, propelling them to a future-proof and scalable level in terms of interoperability, connectivity, operation, and programming. At EMO 2025, UNITED GRINDING completed its digital ecosystem approach for the first time by integrating the open, manufacturer-independent customer portal from Transaction-Network. This places the customer at the center of a smart, connected environment that links machines, software, data, and services into a holistic manufacturing network. It enables users to monitor, analyse, and optimize their production processes in real time – forming the foundation for the smart factory of tomorrow. “This award is a great honour and recognition of our pioneering digital work. What began a decade ago as a bold digital vision has now become reality at this EMO – and I couldn’t be prouder of our development teams,” said Christoph Plüss, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of UNITED MACHINING SOLUTIONS, who accepted the award in Hannover. The award also acknowledges UNITED MACHINING SOLUTIONS’ innovation strategy: advancing technology development across brand and technology boundaries – always with a clear focus on customer benefit.

Green Impact Award – sustainability meets precision

Another reason to celebrate: CHARMILLES, a brand of the UNITED MACHINING Division, was recognized for its breakthrough approach to sustainable high-precision manufacturing efforts with the Green Impact Award. The team led by Philippe Langel, Head of CHARMILLES, and Adrien Rodrigues, Business Support Manager, received the award with a great honour and pride. The winning project, “Precision Redefined with 3DShaping & LASER S 500 U,” combines a unique machining process, 3DShaping, with an ultra-precise and highly dynamic micromachining platform, the LASER S 500 U. Together, they enable the manufacturing of complex micro-geometries with unmatched accuracy and quality — even on features requiring sharp edges and perfect vertical walls. This approach drastically reduces energy consumption, eliminates consumables, and simplifies the overall workflow. It sets new standards in sustainable manufacturing by lowering the environmental footprint, reducing cost per part, and shortening lead times. “Sustainability is not a trend; it’s a responsibility,” emphasized Philippe Langel during the award ceremony. “Our developments demonstrate that precision and ecology can go hand in hand – and that high-end technology can make a real contribution to a more resource-efficient industry.”